MARSEILLE, France (AP) – Marseille coach Robert de Zerbi is leaving the French league club. 5-0 thrashing The biggest game in French football will be at the hands of PSG.
The nine-time French champions announced on Wednesday that they had “ended the collaboration by mutual consent.”
Sunday’s heavy defeat at the Parc des Princes meant defending champions PSG regained a two-point lead over Reims after 21 matches, leaving Marseille fourth after a humiliating defeat.
De Zerbi’s departure comes after another embarrassing 3-0 defeat against Club Brugge two weeks ago, which resulted in Marseille being eliminated from the Champions League.
De Zerbi, who apologized to Marseille fans after the defeat to arch-rivals PSG, joined Marseille in 2024 after two seasons in charge at Brighton. After tightening up tactically in his first season at Marseille, his recent choices have puzzled many observers.
Marseille said in a statement: “Following discussions involving all members of the club’s leadership, including the owner, president, director of football and head coach, it has been decided to replace the leadership of the first team.” “This was a collective and difficult decision taken after thorough consideration, in the best interests of the club and to address the sporting challenges of the final stages of the season.”
De Zerbi led Marseille to second place last season. Marseille did not immediately announce De Zerbi’s replacement ahead of Saturday’s league match against Strasbourg.
Since American owner Frank McCourt bought Marseille in 2016, the former French football powerhouse has been unable to find any form of stability, with successive leaders and occasional shifts in crisis. violent.
Marseille dominated domestic soccer in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Until PSG won the trophy last year, they were the only French team to win the Champions League. They haven’t won a league title since 2010.
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